Pearl Harbor


Attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor

Americans decode Japanese communications that made it clear that Japan was preparing to go to war against the U.S. On November 27th, a warning is recieved from Washington, but Hawaii was not mentioned as a target. Officials doubted that Japan would attack Hawaii because of long distance. Pearl Harbor was left an open target and the attack on December 7, 1941 left eight battleships damaged, as well as 3 cruisers, 4 destroyers, and 6 other vessels. The attack also destroyed 188 airplanes and killed 2,403 americans. 1,178 were injured. The next day, FDR asked congress to declare war.